The Committee recommends that no rule be adopted pertaining to closing argument, as the subject is adequately covered by N.D.C.C. § § 29-21-01 and 29-21-02Rule 29.1 was adopted, effective ______________, in response to the December 1, 2002, revision of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. The language and organization of the rule are intended to make the rule easily understood and to make style and terminology consistent throughout the rules.

Rule 29.1 is based on Fed.R.Crim.P. 29.1. The order of argument set out in the rule is consistent with longstanding North Dakota practice. Fair and effective administration of justice is best served if the defendant knows the arguments actually made by the prosecution in behalf of conviction before the defendant is faced with the decision whether to reply and what to reply.